Zometa standard for lowering recurrence risk?

Question fromKWood:
Do you think it likely that at some point infusions of Zometa will be considered standard practice for reducing the risk of recurrence with ER-positive early-stage breast cancer? Does it make sense for patients to request it "off-label" now?

Answers -Generosa Grana, M.D., F.A.C.P
Zometa (chemical name: zoledronic acid) is a very interesting drug, currently FDA approved for treatment of metastatic breast and prostate cancer to bone as well as for refractory osteoporosis. Recent data presented both at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium and ASCO suggest that it may indeed play a role in prevention of early breast cancer recurrence. It is too early to adopt this as a standard therapy for early breast cancer. There are several studies, two of them completed and one of them ongoing, that will shed more light on this issue. But at this point, I don't believe it is standard of care, nor should physicians be prescribing this outside of its indications until that data becomes available.

On Wednesday, June 18, 2008 our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Updates from the 2008 ASCO Annual Meeting. Generosa Grana, M.D., F.A.C.P. and Carol Kaplan, M.D. answered your questions about the latest research advances on screening, treatment, side effects, and more.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of Breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.